called me back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "called me back" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to refer to someone returning your phone call. For example: "John called me back and we scheduled a meeting for next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nobody has called me back.

The New York Times - Sports

"Jeff Wilpon called me back.

The New York Times - Sports

Dorgan called me back.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Nobody called me back," she said.

The New York Times - Science

"No one's ever called me back".

The New York Times

They never called me back.

The New York Times

But nobody called me back.

The New York Times

Neither executive called me back.

The New York Times

But no one called me back.

The New York Times

They hadn't even called me back.

The New York Times

Powell called me back last Monday afternoon.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be specific in describing when someone "called me back", include date and time for clear understanding.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "called me back". Ensure the tense aligns with the timeline of events you're describing. For instance, use "had called me back" for actions completed before a specific point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "called me back" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of someone returning a phone call. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it's used to narrate events and describe communication between individuals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "called me back" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone returning a phone call. Ludwig AI affirms that it is readily usable. While its register is generally neutral, more formal alternatives might be suitable for academic or scientific writing. Ludwig examples show it frequently appears in News & Media. When employing this phrase, ensure correct tense usage and consider the context to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

returned my call

Focuses on the action of returning a call, highlighting a completed action.

returned my phone call

More formal and explicit about the method of communication.

got back to me

A more general phrase indicating a response was received, not necessarily by phone.

rang me back

Uses a different verb ("rang") to describe the action of calling.

gave me a call back

Rephrases the action using "gave" and "call back" as a noun phrase.

replied to my call

Highlights that call was answered after initial contact.

phoned me later

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of the return call.

responded to my message

Indicates a response to a message, which could be a call, text, or email.

contacted me again

A broader term suggesting any form of re-establishing contact.

followed up with me

Suggests a proactive action to continue a conversation or process.

FAQs

How can I use "called me back" in a sentence?

You can use "called me back" to describe a situation where someone returned your phone call. For example: "After I left a message, she "called me back" within an hour."

What's a more formal alternative to "called me back"?

In a formal context, you might use phrases like "returned my call" or "contacted me in response" instead of "called me back".

What is the difference between "called me back" and "got back to me"?

"Called me back" specifically implies a return phone call. "Got back to me" is broader and could refer to any form of communication, such as email or text.

Is it okay to say "phoned me back" instead of "called me back"?

Yes, "phoned me back" is a perfectly acceptable alternative to "called me back", especially in British English.